Hand-truck.



(N0 Model.)

Patent-ed Oct. 7, I902. E. M. CUMMINS.

HAND TRUCK.

Application filed July 17. 1902.=

UNTTED STATES ATENT Qrrrcs.

ED\VIN M. OUMMINS, OF SIOUX CITY, lOlVA.

HAN D-TRUOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,845, dated October7, 1902.

Application filed July 17,1902. Serial No. 115,992. (No model.)

T0 whom it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN M. CUMMINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sioux City, in the county of WVoodbury and State of Iowa,have invented new and useful Improvements in Hand-Trucks, of whichthefollowing is aspecification.

This invention relates to hand-trucks, and has for its object to providea truck with means which enable heavy loads to be wheeled overobstructions, up and down a step, doorsill, curb, or the like, or down aflight of stairs with ease and without jolt or jar.

To this end my invention consists in the features and in theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims following thedescription, refer,- ence being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspectiveView of my improved truck. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, showingthe manner of lowering the truck over a curb or the like; and Fig. 3 isa similar view showing the manner of lowering the truck down a flight ofsteps.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the frame of thetruck, constructed in an ordinary and well-known manner and comprisingtwo side rails 2, terminating at one end in handles 3 and united bytransverse rails or cross-bars 4. The truck-frame has attached to itsforward end hangers 5, in which is journaled a shaft or axle 6, havingfixed thereon wheels 7, as usual.

Rigidly attached to the under sides of the side rails 2, in rear of thewheels 7, are vertitally-depending side pieces 8, which may consist ofwooden boards or planks or may be made inskeleton form of steel or othersuitable material and properly braced and shaped. Each of the sidepieces is provided at its lower forward end with a curved extension 9,said extensions lying adjacent to the rims of the wheels 7 and forming,in effect, rearward continuations of said wheel-rims. The lower edges ofthe side pieces 8 in rear of the extensions 9 are concaved or providedwith curved recesses 10 for the purpose hereinafter described.

To the inner side of the rear end of each of the side pieces 8 ispivoted one end of an arm 11, and passing through hearings in the otheror free ends of said arms is a shaft 12, that has fixed thereon, nearits ends, relatively small wheels 13. The ends of the shaft 12 projectbeyond the wheels 13, whereby when said wheels are in operative positionthe ends of the shaft 12 will rest against the lower edges of the sidepieces and relieve the pivots of the arms 11 from all strain. In therear upper ends of the side pieces are mortises 14, formed by rabbetingor cutting away the upper rear corners of said side pieces the pivots ofthe arms 11 being so located that when said arms are swung upward andrearwardly the ends of the shaft 12 will lie in the mortises 14 and willhold the wheels 13 out of operative position.

By concaving the under sides of the side pieces 8 in the manner shownand described the operator is enabled to easily handle a heavy load, forthe cut-away portions of the side pieces permit the front Wheels '7 todrop from one step to another Without jar or jolt, the curved extensionsand the curved edges 10 gliding easily over the edges of the steps anddepositing the wheels 7' on the steps lightly and without shock. Men thetruck is wheeled on the wheels 7 in the usual man nor, the arms 11, andwith them the shaft 12 and wheels 13, are turned up until the shaftengages the mortises l4 and will rest therein by gravity, therebyholding the wheels 13 up out of the way. When it is desired to wheel thetruck over obstructions or up or down a step, sill, curb, or the like,the arms 11 and the shaft and wheels are swung down until the ends ofthe shaft restragainst the bottoms of the side pieces. Then by using thewheels 13 as fulcrums the front wheels '7 may be raised up to clear theobstruction orto pass over or upon the step, sill, or curb. The wheels13 may be quickly and conveniently throwninto and out of operativeposition by the operator engaging the shaft 12 with the toe of his shoeand swinging the parts in the desired direction. It will be noted thatthe rear wheels 13 when in operative position are slightly nearer thefront than the rear end of the truck, and hence when the truck is tiltedor rocked on the wheels 13 as fulcrums the greater part of the load willbe in rear of the fulcru ms and render the operation of tilting thetruck easy. In drawing the front end of the truck up and overa curb,step, or sill, or the like the curved extensions 9 will ride easily overthe edge of said obstruction and will gradually and smoothly guide thewheels 7 upon and over such obstruction. The concavities on the loweredge of the side pieces are only useful in lowering a load down astairway. For most other general purposes the concavities may bedispensed with and the side pieces made straight on their lower edges.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A truck comprising aframe provided with wheels at its front end and handles at its rear end,side pieces pendent from the sides of the frame in rear of said wheels,said side pieces being concaved on their lower edges and havingdownwardly and forwardly curved extensions approximately conforming tothe lower and rear sides of the wheels, substantially as described.

2. A truck comprising a frame provided with wheels at its front end andhandles at its rear end, side pieces pendent from the sides of the framein rear of the front wheels, said side pieces being concaved on theirlower edges, wheels carried by the rear ends of the side pieces, meansfor shifting said rear wheels to a position above the lower rear edgesof the side pieces, and means for holding said wheels in such position,substantially as described.

3. A truck comprising a frame provided with wheels at its front end andhandles at its rear end, side pieces pendent from the sides of the framein rear of the front wheels, said side pieces being concaved on theirlower edges and having downwardly and forwardly 'curved extensionsapproximately conforming to the lower and rear sides of said wheels,wheels carried by the rear ends of the side pieces, and means for movingthe rear wheels into and out of operative position, substantially asdescribed.

4. A truck comprising a frame provided with wheels at its front end andhandles at its rear end, rigid side pieces pendent from the sides of theframe intermediate said wheels and the center of said frame, wheelscarried by the rear ends of the side pieces,

means for moving the rear wheels to a position above the lower rearedges of the side pieces, and means for holding said wheels in suchposition, substantially as described.

5. A truck comprising a frame provided with wheels at its front end andhandles at its rear end, side pieces pendent from the sides of the frameintermediate said wheels and the center of the truck, arms pivoted tothe rear ends of the side pieces, a shaft journaled in the free ends ofthe arms, wheels fixed on the shaft, and means for holding the rearwheels out of operative position when the said arms are swung rearwardlyand upwardly, substantially as described.

6. A truck comprising a frame provided with wheels at its front end andhandles at its rear end, side pieces pendent from the sides of the frameintermediate said wheels and the center of the truck, arms pivoted tothe inner sides of the rear ends of the side pieces, a shaft journaledin the free ends of the arms, wheels fixed on the shaft near the ends ofthe latter, the ends of the shaft resting against the lower edges of theside pieces when the arms and rear wheels are lowered and means forholding the rear wheels out of operative position when the said arms areswung rearwardly and upwardly, substantially as described.

7. A truck comprising a frame provided with wheels at its front end andhandles at its rear end, side pieces pendent from the sides of the frameintermediate said wheels and the center of the truck, mortises formed inthe upper rear ends of the side pieces, arms each pivotally secured atone end to the rear portion of one of the side pieces, a shaft journaledin the free ends of the arms, and wheels fixed on said shaft near theends of the latter, the ends of the shaft resting against the loweredges of the side pieces when the arms are swung downward and resting insaid mortises when the arms are swung upward, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EDWVIN M. (JUMMINS.

Witnesses:

R. M. Dorm, O. W. TAYLOR.

